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tremely expert at this work, cut the trees nearly through by 

 notches at the lower and upper sides, gradually retiring up 

 the hill, until a tree of larger dimensions is cut, and being 

 sent down, crashes all the others beneath it. When this is 

 cleverly managed, several acres will often be opened to the 

 daylight at one time ; much, however, depends upon the 

 steepness of the ascent and the heaviness of the forest. On 

 the highest elevations the trees are smallest, and come down 

 lightest, and on the lower elevations it may frequently happen 

 that for acres and acres the trees are of that immense size 

 that every log has required four men to cut it from the 

 stump. Not unfrequently some of these trees have such pro- 

 jecting roots that the axemen have to erect stages around 

 them to reach the ordinary trunk, which will each give em- 

 ployment for six hours to four men to cut through. After 

 the trees have been felled, the lopping has to be attended to ; 

 this is to cut off all the tops and branches, and in some cases 

 to cut the trunks across, so that the mass cut down may lay 

 compactly and dry, as upon this depends much of the success 

 of the burning, and, therefore, the economy of the operation. 

 Small or light forest is often the most expensive to lop, from 

 the lifeless fall of the trees, and the comparatively greater 

 quantity of head and branch ; whereas tall and heavy forest 

 trees fly as it were under the axe from the stump, and in 

 falling break themselves and all beneath them ; in this manner 

 some heavy forests cost less to clear than a lighter growth. 

 The clearing having been left from six weeks to about two 

 months, according to the weather, is fired, which is done 

 generally by setting fire to it chiefly at the lower ends in 

 several places ; by this means the fire is soon connected, and 

 burning in the dryest or first cut down portions, unites in a 

 sweeping flame, rushes up the hill, destroying all before it ; 

 such is the power of the flame from below, that when the 

 burning is successful the part last cut, probably many acres, 



